firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable plan

Look at all the teams doing well - most of those have stuck with their manager;

It also takes culpability away from the players;

Hasn't history told us anything?!


Stick to the Plan.

That said, I do think Johnson has made some bad errors of judgement recently and in preseason.

 

I echo your sentiments. I absolutely hate the fact that the manager takes the bullet every single time. The players don't get sacked when we lose 4 on the bounce. They just wait around and then (most) play out of their skin for a couple of games when the next schlub takes the hotseat, to try and make sure they're not a goner come the end of the season.

Johnson may well have made some errors of judgement but then so have the players in the games they've played. Last night alone: Second half, Harris receives the ball on the edge of the box, great chance to hit it first time or take a quick touch and boot it at the net but what does he do? Does about 6000 step overs until 4 Walsall players have gathered in front of him, THEN hits one straight at them. Same with Winnall when Crowleys excellent sliderule pass put him through on goal. Shoot! No, tried to take on a defender that started out behind him. Chance gone. Like me, Johnson must be tearing his hair out when they do this, only worse for him as he's the one the buck will stop with once Pat's had enough.

They've backed him so far in his 3 or 4 window plan which accounts for 2 seasons. So it'd be completely laughable if they were to pull the plug after just one window and I'd be back to how I felt right after they ditched Wilson, choosing not to attend games because I'd become disillusioned with it all.

 

Stick to the plan

Welcome to league 2 with average attendances of 5k

 

Would you still be saying that if with two weeks ofthe season to go there's still a real possibility of relegation?

I'm still not advocating sacking Johnson, but the ice is looking quite thin right now.

 

My main problem is that seemingly the 'Plan' isn't working which in turn means managers pay for that.

Maybe it's the Plan that needs changing rather than the manager.

 

firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

At what point do you withdraw support for the 3 window plan?

When we are confirmed as relegated or before?

 

We're 13 games in. Not 43.

 

firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

This

How about letting managers manage and be clear about the level of extra support there might be available and allow a so called football profession to sign the players he thinks will fit instead of identifying players on statistics and then excluding anyone over 24...

 

Re: firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

Sorry I didn't realise relegation was nailed on after 13 games.

 

firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

When you lose over half of your fixtures including 4 to those in the bottom 4 at the time, with no obvious sign of improvement you have to start to think that the season will be one of struggle where success will be staying up...

 

Re: firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

This. I was thinking - we have several players that would start for pretty much any team in this division - Mawson, Scowen, Pearson, Winnall, probably Hourihane. So what's the difference - why are we ****? It's because at any other club there would be some experience alongside them guiding and encouraging them and also having the authority to give them a bollocking when necessary. Instead we just chuck all the kids on the pitch and expect something other than the footballing equivalent of Lord of the Flies.

 

Re: firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

No not really. From what I've seen none of the sides have really battered us so far (maybe Rochdale aside) so I still have faith that we're not far off turning our form around. I suppose some folk though are prone to panicking. I prefer to be level headed and offer my support rather than standing around shouting that the sky is falling.

 

Two angles to this,
A business decision to change the manager and maybe we can create enough interest to retain the fan base. This seems to be what has happens in the past.
Or
Footballing decision, continue with the existing manager with the hope that the situation improves on the pitch and the fans stay onboard. If this one fails it will see a mass exodus of the fans, bad for business and bad for football.

It's a catch 22. The club has to keep the fans because it's the fans that keep the club.

 

firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

Chances are that if we are in the bottom 6 this time next month we will stay there.

It may well be fine lines but all teams that have bad seasons can say that.

For what it's worth, I hope LJ sorts it out as I have no faith that any replacement would be any better given the approach is unlikely to change.

There are two issues in play - the approach taken by the powers that be that is being found wanting in terms of being desperate for done experience and also mistakes being made by LJ on a persistent basis.

No panicking here, just that that second half performance had us looking every bit like relegation fodder. Not even that much graft in honesty...

 

Re: firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

I think they scored against the run of play last night. After then, I agree, the team looked like lost souls. Going behind completely knocked the stuffing out of them. Had we converted one of the chances early on in the second half I believe confidence would have grown and we would have seen the game out.

I'm as frustrated as everybody that we can wallop the league leaders 4-1 but lose 2-1 to the bottom team. What makes it frustrating is the fact that it is fine lines as you rightly point out. If we were miles behind then I'd probably be losing faith and patience much faster but I'm optimistic that a result in the next game will turn the tide. Anyway, without optimism, what's the point in going?

 

Re: firing a manager every time we have a bad run of results isn't a sustainable ...

4 wins in 23, baffling, inept tactics, formations and substitutions.

I'd have given most of our recent managers a bit longer but not this, the 'clueless one'.